Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-06-15


Sometimes she seemed almost frenzied
and her voice arose to a positive shrek
and then sunk again to a low wall.
They could not understand one word
she said, and her wild gestures were
all without meaning for them. Dis.
tress, however, does not need an inter
prefer, and young as the boys were,
they could plainly see that some great,
uncommon sorrow was driving this
woman mad. She covered her face
with her hands, moaning piteously,
or threw her arms high in the air; then
seeing the fright and pity on their boy
ish faces, she seized Franks hand, and
holding ii tightly, began TO pour out Q
long story. The utter darkness of hi:
face made her dash him aside, an6
thus, catching sight Of their boat drawn
up on the beach, she ran swiftly to it.
followed more slowly by the boys.
She tried with all her might to drag
or push the boat down to the water
but, strong as she was, she could move
the Star only few inches, and aftel
several moments of greatest effort, sh,
turned once more to the boys, to 90
through a pantomime which clearly
said that she begged them to help hel
get the boat of and out to sea.
WELL" said Frank, as the ide;
dawned upon him, "did you ever hear
of such a thing! She actually want,
us to go outside in weather like this
and every minute growing worse! No
l thank your
"Why does she want us to go, won
derp"
"That we shall never know; and il
does not make much matter, since W,
would not go on any account.
Il believe / have it. She has lost hel
boatv"
"How could that trouble her SC
muchP A boats boat, but she goe.
on as if her boat were II matter of life
and DEATH"
1T often is TO these fisherfolk. They
can't fish without boat, and they
can't live without fishing. I'll try tc
ask her."
He laid his hand OH the woman's
shoulder, and pointing to the boat, he
said-with some idea that she could
understand French better than Eng.
lish: "Bateaup" And then out to the
horizon: "Bateaup"
The woman nodded; she understood
him, and her hope revived in frenzy
of excitement. She pulled away al
the Star, laughing and moulding, and
saying: "Bateau! bateau!" with every
other breath.
Bob was keenly sorry for her, and
his first impulse was to go with her,
but yet he was not ready to run such q
tremendous risk, and then, too, his
promise to his father came to his mind
with such force as to be almost warn
ing. At the same time, he wondered
what his father would say were he
there? Would he not wish him to help
a woman in such deep distress, even al
serious risk to HIMSELF AS he stood
rejecting upon this, he was gazing out
over the water. Suddenly he made a
| discovery.
II see it, Frank! | see it! There
there!' and he too pointed eagerly t.
the spot where the woman had so often
pointed.
Frank looked, and just then Il wave
in the far distance rose higher than its
fellows, and he plainly saw tiny
speck, in shape like Il boat, rise on it,
crest, and sink into the trough behind
it.
Having once found it, the two boys
now much excited, saw il rise and fall
while the woman laughed and cried
with delight, tugged ut their boat, ran
to them with imploring gestures, trying
by every means in herpower to expires.
her wish to 90 after her own boat.
mo, no, said Rob, Tits too danger.
Gus" She turned to Frank; he, too
shook his head. 1--WE could never get
over the bar"
The woman understood their faces il
not their words, and, all unconsciou.
of the struggle going on in Rob,
heart, once more abandoned herself tt
despair. Going some little distanc,
from them, she flung herself facc-dowi
upon the sand, fairly writhng in hel
| sorrow.
1t was too much for Rob, for he was
tcnder-hcartcd.
"Comc, Frank, let's go for that
boat"
Frank turned pale. Rob, you arc
crazy! Why should we9 Doyou want
us to drown?"
81 don't want To- drown, and | think
we stand good chance of getting over
the bar, and this poor SOUL
Eyes, | see her, but we can't hell
her. Besides, what did you promise
fatherp"
81 know, / know. But father Away.
wants us To use our Judgment. III,
would not want us to refuse any one +;
good service, even if there is danger in
doing it. There is something mysteri
Gus i'm this woman's distress. / car
not refuse her"
20 Rob, don't be foolish! | won
60 one step with you, that's fiat. You
never can get over the bar, and / hop,
you won't be fool enough to try"
II am going. Give us a hand will
the boat
Rousing the woman, he showed hel
that they wanted her help, too. Sh,
went eagerly to work. Frank coult
not refuse his unwilling aid, and Sc
with the efforts of all three the boa
moved over the sands, touched water
foated free.
The woman jumped in Immediately
took her seat in the stern and sat inn
movable, regardless of Rob's efforts {,
dissuade her. Seeing that 1t was of n,
use he finally yielded, and pale but de